Water-gage



P.M.ASHLBY.

'(No Model.)

No. 565,714. .Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

WW1/wood '(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. M. ASHLEY.

WATER GAGE.

No. 565,714. Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

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. 3 Sheets- Sheet- 3. F. M. ASHLEY (N10 Model.)

WATER GAGE.

No. 565,714. Patented-Aug. 11,l 1896.

Swue'wboz 351g attiva nm NiTnDN STATES FRANK M. ASHLEY, 0F HAVTHORNE, EVJERSEY.

` WATER-GAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,714, dated August1l, 1896. Application filed Marchl, 1895. Serial No. 541,966. (Nomodel.)

being to render more certain the action ofsuch devices, therebyincreasing the element of safety which they are intended to supply.

In general terms my invention consists of a duplex gage; that is, a gagehaving two indicatingglasses with separate passages leading from each tothe boiler.

It is well understood that many explosions of steam-boilers are notprevented because the water-gage gives an incorrect indication ofthewater-line. The sediment inthe boiler often plugs up the passagesleading to the gage, and hence the water in the gage does not rise andlower in the same proportion that it does in the boiler itself. Underthose conditions, if the watergage is depended upon solely by theengineer, the water in the boiler may drop so low as to cause theburning out of the plates or tubes or the total destruction of theboiler. With a duplex gage in which the glasses stand side by side atthe same level and which communicate with the boiler through separatepassages it is eX- tremely unlikely that the passages to both gageswould become closed at the same time, and owing to this fact it isevident that when the water stands at the same level in both gages theindication is correct. If, however,

the water in one gage is higher than that in v the other, the engineer,while not knowing absolutely which is the correct indication, is warnedthat one of the gages is plugged up, and if steps are taken immediatelyto clear it out a catastrophe may be averted. Thus it will be seen thatwith two gages constructed as described an engineer may be alwayscertain of the quantity of water in the boiler, and with an indicator ofthis character the other safety appliances of a boiler may be dispensedwith.

I am aware that it is common tc place a plurality of water-gages upon asteam-boiler,

but so far as known to me they have always been placed atwidely-separated locations, so that a view of them may be'obtained atdifferent points; but it has never been proposed to so construct andarrange a plurality of gages thata comparison may be made between them,nor has it ever been proposed to place a plurality of gages upon aboiler with separate passages leading from each glass to the boiler insuch a way that the boiler is tapped at only two points, this beinganother feature of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a front view of my improvedgage with parts shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with apart in section. Figs. 3, et, and 5 are details of couplings forsecuring various relative positions of the water-glasses. Fig. 6 is asection of coupling with a double cutoff valve. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation, with `parts in section, of a gage equipped with an automaticcut-off valve. Tdetails of the same. Fig. l0 is a detail of the samegage, showing a modification in the form of coupling. Figs. 1l, 12, and13 are details of a form wherein the couplings are each made in singleintegral pieces.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A and A' respectively represent thetwo indicatingglasses of the two gages. These are held in the ordinarymanner by end pieces a, in which are placed suitable packing-boxes andthe usual cut-oit valve a. Ordinarily these end pieces are screwed intothe openings in the boiler; but in my invention they are screwed intothe opposite sides of two couplings b and b', respectively, thecouplings being in turn screwed into the openings in the boiler. Each ofthese couplings is divided into two chambers or passages bya partitionb2, and the end pieces of the gages communicate, respectively, withthese chambers. The partition extends entirely through the coupling, sothat the two passages are entirely separate throughout the length of thecoupling, and both enter directly into the boiler. There is therefore anindependent passage 'for the water and steam in the boiler through eachgage.

The general construction of the duplex gage is fully given in thepreceding description; but I have shown various modiications Figs. 8 and9 are IOO and attachments for the gage which render it more efficientand desirable and which will be hereinafter described.

It will be observed that each gage acts exactly the same as a singlegage. If the passages which lead to either gage become clogged up by thesediment of the boiler, the water in that particular gage will not standat the proper level, and as the engineer notices a difference betweenthe levels he is aware at once that one of the gages is out of order. Hecan then blow off the gages by opening the ordinary blow-off cocks.

In Fig. 1 the gages are set with the axes of their end pieces in linewith each other,while in Fig. 3 a form of coupling is shown for settingthe gages with the axes of their end pieces parallel to each other. Fig.5 shows a form of coupling for setting the gages with the axes of theirend pieces at right angles to each other. These Various forms of couplings are designed to meet all the conditions under which gages are used.

It may be that the gage must stand in a corner or adjacent to some otherdevice, which would make it necessary to alter the relative position ofthe gages.

Fig. 6 shows the coupling with a single cock c in it, by means of whichboth passages may be simultaneously closed and either or both gagesremoved from the boiler while steam is on. Fig. 1 also shows a sheet ofcorrugated material d, arranged between two waterglasses to protecteither of them from escaping steam or flying glass if the other breaks.In Fig. 1 also there is shown an automatic self-grinding valve c, whichiiies to its seat under pressure of steam in case the glass breaks.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a form of construction wherein the coupling is madein two parts f and f and the end pieces are placed with their axesparallel, which makes it possible to place screw-plugs at the points f2,by the removal of which the automatic valves e may be reached withouttaking off the entire gage. This figure, in connection with Fig. 9, alsoshows a single two-way cock f3, by means of which either of the gagesmay be blown off at will.

Fig. 10 shows the same general form of gage, but with the axes of theend pieces placed obliquely.

Figs 11, 12, and 13 are details of a form of double gage in which theend pieces and couplings are cast in one piece and of such form thatthey may be provided with the screw-plugs f 2. This construction is anespecially good one, because it embodies the entire double gage exceptthe glasses in only two parts. In these figures another good feature ofthe apparatus is shown. The protecting side rods g for both glasses areheld by two plates g and g2, each serving to hold the ends of the rodsfor both glasses and the plates being secured to the coupling in themanner shown in Fig. 13.

In Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6 the diaphragm or wall between the two passagesof the end couplings is extended beyond the end of the coupling and intothe boiler, so that the two passages will be still further isolated fromeach other and the liability of both passages becoming clogged at oncewill be lessened.

It will be observed that when the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 isadopted two ordinary gages may be used in connection with the couplings.The purchaser might then procure the couplings only and apply gageswhich he may have on hand.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with asteam-boiler, of a plurality of water-gages and two couplings tted tothe boiler, the gages being attached to the couplings and separatepassages leading to and from each gage through the couplings to and fromthe boiler, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a steam-boiler, two couplings connectedtherewith, a plurality of entirely independent passages in each couplingcommunicating with the boiler, a valve in each coupling controlling allof its passages, and a plurality of lwater-gages connected with saidcouplings in such a manner that independent passages lead through eachto and from the boiler.

3. The combination with a boiler, of a coupling attached thereto througha single perforation in the boiler-shell, a plurality of gages attachedto said coupling and a corresponding number of independent passagesextending through the coupling from each gage directly to the boiler,for the purpose set forth.

4:. The combination with a steam-boiler of two couplings connectedtherewith, said couplings forming the upper and lower supportsrespectively for two gages, two passages extending entirely through thecouplings one passage for each gage, and a diaphragm proj ectin g intothe boiler from the couplings and located between the two passagessubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a steam-boiler, of two water-gages att-achedthereto, the connections to the boiler being made through two openingstherein, only the passages from and to the boiler through the respectivegages being separate.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK M. ASHLEY.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, J oHN KRAEGER.

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